The best gaming phones in 2022
The best gaming phones that won't let you down in the heat of battle
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
Level up your mobile gaming with the best gaming phones we've recommended below. Whether you want gamer-specific features or just a lot of computing power, these are the handsets you should shortlist first.
Aside from a powerful chipset, there are other things to look out for when buying a gaming phone. You'll likely also want a great display to enjoy a game's graphics at their best, a high refresh rate display to keep things smooth, a lengthy battery life or even unique features like trigger buttons or a fan for extra cooling. Phones offering some or all of these are what we went looking for, and we found some great devices to put in this guide.
Companies like Razer and Asus — names that gamers are likely very well-acquainted with by now — have lent their expertise in the field to produce purpose-built, gaming-focused handsets. But recent flagships from Samsung, OnePlus and even Apple, with their class-leading specs, are also great for demanding titles.
Speaking of Apple, the iPhone 13 series has surprised us all by being a better phone for gaming than dedicated gaming phones. The key reasons for this are Apple's continuing dominance when it comes to chipset power (thanks to the A15 Bionic), and the new 120Hz adaptive refresh rate displays on the two Pro models. This was the missing piece of the puzzle when it came to older iPhones, so now the iPhone 13 Pro Max sits at the top of this ranking.
Of course there are still many Android phones that are nearly as good. We like the Asus ROG Phone 5 if you want a phone aimed specifically for gaming. Or for an all-round top handset that also handles gaming well, consider either the OnePlus 10 Pro, Google Pixel 6 Pro or Galaxy S22 Plus.
If you like to dip into rounds of Fortnite or Arena of Valor on the go, these are the best gaming phones for the job.
What are the best gaming phones?
The top of our best gaming phones list is the iPhone 13 Pro Max with its powerful A15 Bionic chip. You get top-tier performance and a 120Hz display, plus stellar battery life.
The best Android gaming phone is the OnePlus 10 Pro, which is powered by this year's top-of-the-line Snapdragon silicon and also lasts a long time on a charge. You can also turn to Google's Pixel 6 Pro, as its Tensor chip holds up well when running challenging games. However, if you want every little gaming feature possible, then look no further than the Asus ROG Phone 5. The combination of 144Hz display, up to 16GB RAM, a Snapdragon 888 chipset and fantastic longevity courtesy of a 6,000 mAh battery means that if gaming's all you care about, there's no better option.
If you want the cheapest path to premium performance, the RedMagic 7 offers the best bang for your buck, with gaming-focused features and a screen as responsive as the ROG Phone 5's, starting at a price under the $600 mark.
Read on for a deeper look into each of the best gaming phones Tom's Guide has tested, from their performance specs to pros and cons.
The best gaming phones you can buy now 🔥
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
The best gaming phone for iPhone users__________________________________________
SPECIFICATIONS
Display: 6.7-inch OLED (2778 x 1284)
Peak refresh rate: 120Hz
CPU: A15 Bionic
RAM: 6GB
Storage / Expandable: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB / No
Cameras (back/front): 12MP main, ultrawide, telephoto / 12MP
Weight: 8.5 ounces
Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 12:16
The best gaming phone for Android
___________________________________________
SPECIFICATIONS
Display: 6.7-inch AMOLED (3216 x 1440)
CPU: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
RAM: 8GB, 12GB
Storage / Expandable: 128GB, 256GB / No
Rear cameras: 48MP (f/1.8) main, 50MP (f/2.2) ultrawide, 8MP (f/2.4) 3.3x telephoto
Front camera: 32MP (f/2.2)
Weight: 7 ounces
Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 11:52 (120Hz), 12:39 (60Hz)
An Android phone that offers more than gaming
___________________________________
SPECIFICATIONS
Display: 6.7-inch OLED (3120 x 1440; 10-120Hz)
CPU: Tensor
RAM: 12GB
Storage / Expandable: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB / No
Rear cameras: 50MP main (Æ’/1.85), 12MP ultrawide (Æ’/2.2), 48MP telephoto (Æ’/3.5) with 4x optical zoom
Front camera: 11.1MP (Æ’/2.2)
Weight: 7.4 ounces
Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 7:49
The ultimate gaming phone
______________________________________________
SPECIFICATIONS
Display size (Pixels): 6.78-inch AMOLED (2448 x 1080)
Peak refresh rate: 144Hz
CPU: Snapdragon 888
RAM: 8GB,12GB, 16GB
Storage/Expandable: 128GB, 256GB / No
Cameras (Back/Front): 64MP wide, 13MP ultrawide, 5MP macro / 24MP
Weight: 8.4 ounces
Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 10:27 (144Hz), 12:23 (60Hz)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
SPECIFICATIONS
Display: 6.8-inch AMOLED (2400 x 1080)
Peak refresh rate: 165Hz
CPU: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
RAM: 12GB, 16GB, 18GB
Storage/Expandable: 128GB, 256GB / No
Cameras (Back/Front): 64MP (f/1.8) main, 8MP (f/2.0) ultrawide, 2MP macro / 8MP (f/2.0)
Weight: 7.6 ounces
Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 10:19
How to choose the best gaming phone for you
As with all things, choosing the right gaming phone is a matter of priorities. If you're after the best performance — and you likely are if you're reading this — you'll want a phone with a Snapdragon 8-series chipset or Apple's A15 Bionic. Emphasis on the Snapdragon, as Qualcomm's best silicon for Android phones is available in devices from a number of manufacturers.
But what about high refresh rates? That's something you'll only find on the more expensive end of the market, though it's a feature that will surely descend to more modestly-priced phones over time. Panels rated at 90Hz and above offer smoother scrolling and overall graphics than conventional screens, making you feel as if every swipe, tap and action is eliciting a response with no delay. If you're an especially serious competitive gamer, higher refresh rates will ensure you won't miss any of the action.
Of course, the more a device is geared toward gaming with the appropriate features, the more phone makers ignore other considerations. While battery life is central to gaming (because games consume a lot of power), you'll have a tougher time finding gaming phones with great camera hardware and software, or perhaps conveniences like wireless charging and water resistance. If those things are important to you, you may want to focus your search on the more powerful handsets on this list that aren't strictly intended for gaming but can still very much hold their own, like the OnePlus 10 Pro, Galaxy S22 Plus and iPhone 13 Pro Max.
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